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First Multidisciplinary Clinic For People with ALS To
Open In Hawaii This Month
Grand opening celebration to take place on February 17 at Kuakini Physicians TowerFebruary 11, 2016 - Honolulu, HI The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is pleased to announce the opening of the first multidisciplinary ALS Clinic in Hawaii, at 405 N Kuakini St., Suite 701, Honolulu, HI 96817, on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Neurologist Brandon K. Hirota, M.D. will serve as Clinic Director and will lead a group of clinical professionals to provide high-quality care, support and information for those living with ALS and their caregivers. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. People with ALS lose their ability to move, speak, swallow and eventually the ability to breathe, while all five senses function normally. Currently, there is no known cause or cure for ALS. “We are very excited to be providing this long-awaited resource to the ALS community in Hawaii,” said Dr. Hirota. “ALS is a very complex disorder- biologically, clinically, socially, and that really takes a specialized care model to treat it effectively.” Research has demonstrated that those who receive care and treatment at a multidisciplinary ALS clinic live longer with ALS and have a higher quality of life. People with ALS who are seen at the clinic will be served by a team of specialists across a variety disciplines -- which include neurology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology and social work -- who work together to coordinate care. Having a multidisciplinary care team model allows the person to receive all of their ALS-related care in one location on the same day. “It takes many different medical specialists, along with community-based care managers, to help people with ALS manage the progression of the disease.” said Fred Fisher, President & CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. “While, at this time, there is no known cure for ALS, receiving the kind of excellent care that these specialty clinics can provide has been shown to significantly lengthen and improve people’s quality of life and is greatly needed for Hawaii’s underserved ALS community.” A grand opening celebration at the new clinic will feature the following speakers: Fred Fisher, President & CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter who will highlight the Golden West Chapter’s many accomplishments during the past year as well as the shared vision for increasing care services, research, and public policy initiatives in support of the ALS community in Hawai’i. Golden West Chapter Advisory Trustee Joanne “Cookie” Fujio will share her thoughts about the journey of bringing multidisciplinary clinical care to Hawaii, which has been supported by the community outreach and funding from the Hawaii Walk to Defeat ALS. Dr. Hirota will introduce the clinic team. ALS can strike anyone –men and women of any age- at any time. It knows no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries, though military veterans are at twice the risk of the general population. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from diagnosis. In the later stages of the disease, the annual costs for home care, coupled with the cost of necessary equipment can exceed $200,000 per year. For more information about ALS, this event, or to register for the Hawai’i Walk, please go to www.als-hawaii.org. You may also contact Kahala Howser, Regional Director of Community Outreach, at (808) 888-9627 or khowser@alsagoldenwest.org. About The ALS Association and The Golden West Chapter The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. We are a member of the National Health Council and the only national organization solely dedicated to fighting ALS on all fronts while directly serving the ALS community. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and their families in the state of Hawai’i and in 31 counties throughout California. For more information, please visit to www.als-hawaii.org. ### |
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First Multidisciplinary Clinic For People with ALS To
Open In Hawaii This Month
Grand opening celebration to take place on February 17 at Kuakini Physicians TowerFebruary 11, 2016 - Honolulu, HI The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is pleased to announce the opening of the first multidisciplinary ALS Clinic in Hawaii, at 405 N Kuakini St., Suite 701, Honolulu, HI 96817, on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Neurologist Brandon K. Hirota, M.D. will serve as Clinic Director and will lead a group of clinical professionals to provide high-quality care, support and information for those living with ALS and their caregivers. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. People with ALS lose their ability to move, speak, swallow and eventually the ability to breathe, while all five senses function normally. Currently, there is no known cause or cure for ALS. “We are very excited to be providing this long-awaited resource to the ALS community in Hawaii,” said Dr. Hirota. “ALS is a very complex disorder- biologically, clinically, socially, and that really takes a specialized care model to treat it effectively.” Research has demonstrated that those who receive care and treatment at a multidisciplinary ALS clinic live longer with ALS and have a higher quality of life. People with ALS who are seen at the clinic will be served by a team of specialists across a variety disciplines -- which include neurology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology and social work -- who work together to coordinate care. Having a multidisciplinary care team model allows the person to receive all of their ALS-related care in one location on the same day. “It takes many different medical specialists, along with community-based care managers, to help people with ALS manage the progression of the disease.” said Fred Fisher, President & CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. “While, at this time, there is no known cure for ALS, receiving the kind of excellent care that these specialty clinics can provide has been shown to significantly lengthen and improve people’s quality of life and is greatly needed for Hawaii’s underserved ALS community.” A grand opening celebration at the new clinic will feature the following speakers: Fred Fisher, President & CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter who will highlight the Golden West Chapter’s many accomplishments during the past year as well as the shared vision for increasing care services, research, and public policy initiatives in support of the ALS community in Hawai’i. Golden West Chapter Advisory Trustee Joanne “Cookie” Fujio will share her thoughts about the journey of bringing multidisciplinary clinical care to Hawaii, which has been supported by the community outreach and funding from the Hawaii Walk to Defeat ALS. Dr. Hirota will introduce the clinic team. ALS can strike anyone –men and women of any age- at any time. It knows no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries, though military veterans are at twice the risk of the general population. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from diagnosis. In the later stages of the disease, the annual costs for home care, coupled with the cost of necessary equipment can exceed $200,000 per year. For more information about ALS, this event, or to register for the Hawai’i Walk, please go to www.als-hawaii.org. You may also contact Kahala Howser, Regional Director of Community Outreach, at (808) 888-9627 or khowser@alsagoldenwest.org. About The ALS Association and The Golden West Chapter The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. We are a member of the National Health Council and the only national organization solely dedicated to fighting ALS on all fronts while directly serving the ALS community. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and their families in the state of Hawai’i and in 31 counties throughout California. For more information, please visit to www.als-hawaii.org. ### |